By, Danny Caro
7 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
It's back to the bread and butter of the league, after the cup bonanza, with former champions Hendon United looking to bounce back against a Neasden team fighting for survival in the Premier Division.
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BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY FINAL PHOTOS
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MGBSFL ROLL OF HONOUR
Cyril Anekstein Cup: Winners - Norstar London Raiders A, Runners-up: Hendon A
Barry Goldstein Trophy: Winners – FC Team B, Runners-up: Los Blancos
Premier Division: Norstar London Raiders A, Runners-up: Hendon A
Division One: Champions - Redbridge JC B, Promoted: NL Raiders B
Division Two: Champions - FC Team B, Promoted: AC Mill Hill
Division Three: Champions - London Rovers, Runners-up: Real Sosobad
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CUP COMPETITIONS: LATEST
CYRIL ANEKSTEIN CUP FINAL
Norstar London Raiders A vs Hendon United Sports Club A - May 3, KO - 2.30pm
Officials - Referee: Neil Cooper, Asst Ref 1: Gary Silver, Asst Ref 2: Steve Levy, 4th Official: Martin Lavender
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PETER MORRISON TROPHY FINAL
Hendon Utd SC A vs AFC Flixton - Oldham Athletic FC, May 17
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PHOTOGALLERIES FROM THE SEASON
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEASON
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MGBSFL PREMIER DIVISION
CURRENT STANDINGS:
1. Raiders (CHAMPIONS) Pl. 18, W. 14, D. 1, L. 3, F. 54, A. 14, Pts. 43 (Raiders to be awarded 3 points following defaulted match vs Woodford)
2. Hendon Pl. 17, W. 11, D. 4, L. 2, F. 48, A. 14, Pts. 37
TOP-SCORERS
27 - James Gershfield (Harmen)
18 - Dave Woolman (Oakwood A)
FC TEAM A vs HARMEN
Harmen are already assured third place after Redbridge forfeited last week, and with FC Team safe, I expect both sides to go out and enjoy themselves in a contest that could have a real end of season feel to it.
The visitors have enjoyed an excellent season. They have big plans next year and will no doubt be looking to bow out on a high.
Although striker James Gershfield has grabbed the headlines, full-backs Ricky Rinder and Rob Blackman have also been exceptional and look set to be rewarded with new contracts.
Revenge is the name for Team who were thrashed 5-2 by Harmen in September. But Ben Gilbey’s boys have come on in leaps and bounds since then, with their last outing a 2-1 win over double winners Norstar London Raiders A.
There were stand-out performances from Mike Myers, David James Cohen, Alon Hirshkorn, Rob Sanford, Yoav Lebens and Shim Bensoor, and they will be looking to put down another marker ahead of next season.
JC team news: Ricky Rinder misses out with a knee injury.
Venue – Old Camdenians, Ref – Steve Levy
JC star man: Alon Hirshkorn (Team)
DC Prediction: Team 2 Harmen 1
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NORTH WEST NEASDEN vs HENDON UNITED SPORTS CLUB A
This could either be a very good or very bad time for Neasden to be playing Hendon.
Bouncebackability is the name of the game as David Garbacz’s boys attempt to pick up the pieces after their defeat in the Cyril Anekstein Cup final.
Second place is already secured in the MGBSFL, but Garbacz and his players have never been ones to settle for second best. The glass is definitely still half full lads, as they have the Peter Morrison Trophy final to look forward to in a fortnight.
Ahead of Sunday’s trip to relegation-threatened Neasden, Garbacz told JC Sport: “The boys will need an almighty pick up after last week’s cup disappointment.
“Unfortunately we are heavily depleted, once again, as has been the theme for most of the season, and the main aim will be to emerge from this match without any more injuries for the Morrison final next week.
“Neasden have got their tails up and can sense a great escape and they probably could not be playing us at a better time.
“However, the players who will be available will be fighting for their own individual places next week and we owe it to the league and especially to Maccabi London Lions to give the game our all.
“Winning is a habit and it would give us a much-needed confidence boost to finish off the league campaign with three points and we would then enter next week in a much better frame of mind.”
Neasden know that only two wins in their last two fixtures will be enough to save them from Division One football next season. After Sunday against Hendon, they finish at FC Team – that’s two incredibly tough games on paper.
Dovi Fehler was the star man when Hendon crushed Neasden 5-1 in January, but Neasden are men on a mission. They beat Oakwood last time and out will go into Sunday’s game believing impossible is nothing.
Looking ahead to Sunday, NWN boss Stirling Kay told JC Sport: "Yes, this is the first of our cup finals, what with Harmen not being able to field a side last week it's very simple we need two points to avoid relegation.
"You can be sure we will be totally focused and every one of my players will do what ever they have to do to get the three points.
"Hendon will not be having a cosy 90 minutes. W will be fighting for every header every tackle and then some. Every time they are in possession they will know a tackle will be coming in.
"We know we are very capable of winning this game. And whatever happens hendon will be in for a very tough 90 minutes.
"They are a very good side and I hope they will go on and win the Peter Morrison next week."
Dan Field, Scott Kay and Dan Orgel were real warriors last time out. No doubt they will play as though their lives depend on it.
JC team news: For various reasons, Hendon will be without Rafi Kon, Greg Corin, Tali Nevies, Ethan Zone and Ben Lauffer, as well as long-term absentees Yoav Kestenbaum and Avidan Last.
Venue – Hazelwood Rec, Ref – Neal Cohen
JC star man: Dan Field (Neasden)
DC Prediction: Neasden 2 Hendon 1
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TOP-SCORERS
32 - Daniel Garfinkle (Redbridge JC B – including 8 for RJC A)
28 - Simon Moses (Blancos – includes two for Brady)
Matches completed
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DIVISION TWO
TOP-SCORERS
25 - Adam Stolerman (FC Team C)
23 - Jacob Richler-Kleiman (Oakwood B)
AC MILL HILL vs OAKWOOD B
Division Two draws to a close on Sunday as runners-up Mill Hill host Oakwood B.
Dan Beresford’s boys are in the midst of an excellent run, culminating in the 5-3 success over FC Team C that secured second place.
Beresford already has one eye on summer targets, although he would’ve been disappointed to hear that Memphis Depay is on his way to United.
Ahead of kick-off, Beresford told JC Sport: "I know oakwood have had a good end to their season and will be out for revenge after our previous meeting, but I hope we can come through and end the season on a high.
"We're missing several players and are currently struggling for 11, but I'm still positive we can get the job done."
Oakwood have had a good first season under Jason Stein. They go into the game on the back of a good run in the Goldstein Trophy, with revenge on their minds after Mill Hill beat them 1-0 in October, courtesy of an Elliot Jackson own goal.
Stein is an incredibly proud man and he hopes his boys can deliver as they look to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat against double winners FC Team B.
I caught up with Stein earlier this week and here’s what he said. “Good day, DC. Well, this is it, my last press conference of the season.
"We’re looking forward to tuning up the band one more time against Mill Hill who are a rough and tumble side.
"It's no secret that I think it's ridiculous we're playing this game after Mill Hill refused to play us on 3G back in February.”
Much depends on which players can be bothered to get out of bed for a dead-rubber, but I’m predicting goals.
Venue – Chase Lodge Rec, Ref – Elliot Mayer
JC star man: Elliot Jackson (Oakwood)
DC Prediction: Mill Hill 2 Oakwood 2
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DIVISION THREE
TOP-SCORERS
34 - Adam Ellis (Shacharit Donetsk)
26 - Avi Markiweicz (London Rovers)
KS REUNITED vs LONDON ROVERS
London Rovers wrapped up the title several weeks ago and manager Jeremy Brown may have to get one or two players off the beach ahead of their finale at KS.
Rovers have a 10-point advantage of their nearest rivals, Real Sosobad, but some of their players will be looking to get that heartbreaking Barry Goldstein Trophy defeat against losing finalists Los Blancos out of their systems, with boss Jeremy Brown believing they deserved more.
With the Division Three manager of the year accolade in the bag, the title of Player of the Year remains up for grabs, with Parys Hammond, Josh Bharier and Avi Markiewicz in the hat, along with Adam Ellis of Shacharit Donetsk.
Ahead of kick-off, Rovers boss Jeremy Brown told JC Sport: "It's been a while since we've played, but it's our final game of the season and we're very much looking forward to it.
"We're a little short on numbers for this game, but we will be going out to complete the season on a high with 17 wins out of 18 and hopefully the boys can start showing their intent for next season."
Truth be told, KS’s first season has been a struggle. Nonetheless, they have registered four wins and victory on Sunday would be their best rest of the season for sure.
But if you’re a betting man, stick your money on the Rovers – 5-0 victors in the corresponding fixture.
Venue – Powerleague, Fairlop, Ref – David Lazarus, KO - 10am
JC star man: Yisroel Lewis (Rovers)
DC Prediction: KS 1 Rovers 4
